Hynd brothers set to go head-to-head on Day 7

South Africa’s Natalie Du Toit will be back in action once again as she looks to retain her women’s 50m freestyle S9 title for a third Games running.

Great British brothers Sam and Oliver Hynd rose to fame with their silver and bronze medal-winning swim in the men’s 400m freestyle S8 last Friday (31 August), and the pair are set go head-to-head once again on Day 7.

The brothers will start the day’s proceedings in the pool with them locking horns once more in the heats of the men’s 200m individual medley SM8.

Unlike the 400m freestyle race though, they could potentially clash twice instead of just in the final as they have both been drawn in the same heat (heat 3).

However, although the rivalry is talked up in the media there is no real acrimony between the pair. Talking after the 400m freestyle final, Sam – who won bronze that evening – spoke of nothing but the respect he has for his silver winning brother.

He said: “I know he trains really hard and he deserves everything he gets. All I can do is pat him on the back.

“There's no animosity, it's all about sportsmanship. What happens in the pool stays in the pool.”

Despite that being said, there will be no love-lost come tomorrow’s race, and should they make the 17:30 final it will certainly be one to watch.

Next into the pool is the eagerly anticipated women’s 200m individual medley clash between Russia’s Olesya Vladykina and USA’s Jessica Long.

Vladykina already has one gold at this Paralympic games, but Long can boast three and with the world record to her name she will certainly be hard to beat.

However, such is Long’s gruelling schedule – with her racing every day so far – that fatigue could be settling in and Vladykina may well be able to turn this in her favour.

Andre Brasil will begin the retention of his 400m freestyle title in the heats at 9:57. He has reached the final in every event he has competed in so far at these games, but will be pressed hard by Benoit Huot of Canada in the hunt for the gold.

Yevheniy Bohodayko has electrified London in his first Paralympic Games and will hit the water once more in the men’s 100m breaststroke SB6 heats.

The world record holder will have to see off close competition from Croatian Mihovil Spanja and Christoph Burkard of Germany if he is to be successful.

South Africa’s Natalie Du Toit will be back in action once again as she looks to retain her women’s 50m freestyle S9 title for a third Games running.

The experienced swimmer will come across a competitive field in doing so, which contains France’s Sarai Gascon and Australia’s Ellie Cook. Should she make the final, it will commence at 20:30.

And finally, David Smetanine will be entering the water for a second time to defend his men’s 100m freestyle S4 title. Should he make the final, it will conclude the day’s action at 20:51.

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Caption

Nathalie Du Toit swimming for the Gold Medal in the Women's 100m Butterfly - S9.